Research to turn CO2 into biomass reaches ‘milestone’

Carbon dioxide could be taken out of power station emissions and made into useful biomass products with the help of tiny “designer” micro-organisms.

This is according to the first stages of €2million worth of research by biotech company BRAIN AG and German energy firm RWE, the parent company of UK supplier npower.

The researchers have created special micro-organisms (pictured) which “feed” on CO2-containing flue gases from lignite-fired power stations, such as the Niederaussem plant in Germany. Eventually these micro-organisms could be used to convert CO2 into biomass or secondary raw materials, say the scientists.

Dr Jürgen Eck, BRAIN’s chief scientific officer said: “We seek to make a lasting contribution when it comes to utilising CO2 in an industrially scalable system.”

The exciting “milestone” development could be good news for efforts against climate change.